Sunday, August 31, 2014

Lexie looked at the kids waiting for an answer. In her mind she was already their mother, she
didn’t need a lawyer or buying off their mom to be that.

“Of course I want to adopt you mutts.” She laughed.

All the kids jumped up to hug her. Jon stood watching the free for all. They were joined by the elder Bongiovi’s who
added their congratulations. Carlotta came in to tell them breakfast was on the
table.

Much later that evening as Jon and Lexie cuddled in
bed, she ran her fingers along his chest.

“You know, this paper is a formality, those four already
are my kids.” Lexie looked up at
him. “I can’t believe she signed away
her rights to those kids. I could never
do that.”

Jon smiled.

“I have to ask, when did you five have this
meeting?” She sat up and leaned against
the headboard.

Jon knew she was going to ask that.

“You just happen to be in your writing spot. Seems they talked about it when we were at
the cabin on our honeymoon. Dad told me they
asked about how you went about adopting” Jon sat up facing her in the bed,
knowing that the cuddling was over until she got her mind around this adoption.

“Dorothea has separated from Greg, she called because
she heard we were married.” Jon reached for
her hand.

“Separated, I thought they had moved to Los Angeles?”
Lexie linked her fingers with his.

“Well, seems she needed more money, he lost his job, and
she refused to go to work.” Jon sounded very upset the more he talked about
her. “I offered her a deal, she signed
the papers for adoption, and it was a one-time lump-sum deal.”

“You mean she took money to sign away her rights?” Lexie gasped.

“Yeah she did. I
would have paid anything at this time.
She gave up custody to me after the Philly incident, so this legally ends
her involvement with the kids.” Jon
shifted in the bed so he could look in her eyes. “My mom will tell you I should have made her
sign a pre-nup” He stopped to take a breath, she jumped on it.

“Jon, I know all this. That’s why we met with the
lawyers before we were married.” Lexie
reached out and touched his face. “I
just want to know, why she gave in so easy.”

“Well, for one it was all about the money. Two, the kids do not and I stress do not,
like his parents. Three, I wanted to
wash my hands of her.” He sighed, “With
this payment, she can’t have contact with them, without me being there, and it
has to be in Jersey. She can’t come to me for more money, this gold vein had
been tapped out.”

“So she sold her kids to you, I could never do
that.” She placed her hand on her
swollen abdomen. “One of us has to die
first.”

He knew she was serious. She would never give up her trio or his four,
unless she was dead. When he and Dot got
married, she had wanted kids, and he would settle down and they would be a
family. When he hit the big time, she
begged his to slow down, not tour so much.
When he found out she cheated on him, it had just about done him
in. He still hand feelings for her, they
did have four kids, and just now the feelings weren’t the love they had shared.

“She signed the paper and the money was deposited in
her name.” Jon sighed and brought their joined hands to his lips and kissed her
knuckles.

Lexie just shook her head. She would make sure not a day goes by that
those kids didn’t feel unloved.

The next two doctor’s appointments came and went, Little
Baby Bongiovi three, managed to hide from having its privates
photographed. She left Jon with the boys
while she and Stephanie headed to Atlanta for the Book Writers conference. The Paps camped out at the hotel, keeping
Lexie and Stephanie holed up in the hotel.
If they wanted food, Robbie would order it sent to his room and he would
sneak it up the back stairs. They rented
in room movies and shopped online. Every
night she fell asleep talking to Jon.

They were sitting on the balcony waiting for Robbie to
bring up dinner. They had ordered pizza
and salads, Stephanie was leaning over the balcony railing looking down at the
photographer and autograph seekers.

“You know I could throw a bucket of water down on them,
bet they would leave us alone.” She
leaned back and watched Lexie tapping away on her iPad.

“Ah Hua,” Lexie mumbled.

“That or just spit down on them.” Stephanie teased. She had seen it before, a
bomb could go off and Lexie wouldn’t hear it, when she was in the throes of
writing.

“Yeah, but you could get arrested.” Robbie said as he
walked out on the balcony with a large veggie pizza. The smell finally drew out of her iPad world.

“Yummy, the trio is getting hungry.” She saved her chapters and shut down the
iPad.

“She was so gone Robbie, I threatened to toss water on
the paps or spit on them and she just agreed.”
Stephanie grabbed a plate and a slice.

“I know I get caught up in my writing, but it was just
flowing.” She grabbed a slice and a
plate. She grabbed a bottle of water and
took a long swallow. “Your Dad and Uncle
Mookie are the same way, when they are writing.”

“That’s true.”
Stephanie said.

Later that night as she sat talking to Jon.

“I am so sick of this hotel.” Lexie sighed as she sipped a McDonalds to go
sweet tea. Robbie made a midnight run to McDonalds for Lexie. The babies wanted sweet tea and the hotel tea
just didn’t hit the mark. “We leave
tomorrow by way of the kitchen backdoor.
Security sucks.”

“Well, you come home tomorrow and don’t have to go
back.” Jon told her as he ran through
the channels on the bedroom television.

“Yes I will, the awards conference is here, this
summer.” She rubbed her tummy. “The trio
hates this place too.” She placed the
empty cup on the bedside table.

They talked until she fell
asleep.

Snow in February, Jon sat in the airport waiting on the
plane to be ready. He had a bad feeling
leaving Lexie yesterday. Her cravings
were making him sick and he put on about twenty pounds since they found out she
was pregnant. At Midnight he woke up to
her eating a peanut butter sandwich in bed.
Of course he had to have one too.
Reaching for her other half, he missed the dill pickles in the sandwich.

“I
didn’t think you liked crunchy peanut butter.” He said as he took another bite.

“That’s
the dill pickles.” She said as she took
another bite.

Jon
almost barfed in the bed right there. He
tossed the three bites he had last into the trash.

“Damn
Lexie, next time warn me.” Jon said as he
jumped out of bed and run to the bathroom to rinse his mouth out.

“I
pregnant with triplets, I eat what they want, one wanted peanut butter, the
other wanted raspberry preserves with seeds and baby c, our unknown passenger,
demanded pickles.” She laughed as she
popped the last bite of the sandwich in her mouth.

He jumped when his cell rang, checking the caller ID he
noticed it was Stephanie number.

“Hey Steph, what’s up?” Jon got up and walked toward
the windows so he could hear her over the band horsing around.

“I’m taking Lexie to the doctor’s office, she said
she’s fine,” Stephanie said as she helped Lexie into the car.

“I’m fine Jon,” he heard Lexie sounding weak.

“I’m stuck in the airport in Cleveland, their icing
down the plane.” Jon started to pace.

“I just wanted you to know, I called Dr. Sally and he
is waiting on her. I’ll call you when I
know something more.” Stephanie gave the
driver directions, Lexie grabbed her phone.

“I’m okay Jon, Stephanie is just over protective, I
woke up from my nap and my back was hurting worse than it had before. She thinks I’m in labor, but it’s too soon,
I’m almost seven months, I’m not due till May.”

“I’ll be there as soon as I can Lex.” Jon was getting worried, the last time they
were at the doctor’s office, Dr. Sally said with multiples, early contractions
have happened. “Have you been timing the
pains?”

“We’re heading in the tunnel, Stephanie will call you
from the doctor’s office.” Lexie said
and sure enough they lost the signal.

“Lex, Lex?” Jon
looked at the screen “Damn, Obie get my ass out of fucking Cleveland.” He turned and yelled at the sound man.

“Wouldn’t that be Paul’s Job?” Obie the sound wizard of the crew.

“Once they get the plane ready we can leave, Kidd.”
Richie said as he walked over toward Jon.

“I knew I shouldn’t have left her.” Jon paced and looked at the plane. “Freak ice storm my ass.”

“Is something wrong with Lexie?” David joined Richie who was pacing along with
Jon.

“Early labor, we knew it could happen with Lex having
the trio.” He stopped pacing and looked
between Richie and David.

“Maybe it’s just Braxton’s.” David told him. “Aprille had that problem.”

“I don’t know, I just want to be there.” Jon said quietly.

By the time they got into the air, Jon checked his
email over and over, for work from Stephanie.
As they landed he turned his cell off.
It listed a hospital and a room number.

Jon started to give the driver but he already
knew. He was taken to the back, past the
field of photographers. Stephanie was
waiting in the hall, he had to show ID to get into the hall.

“Steph?” He
called to his daughter.

“Daddy,” Stephanie went to her father, walking into his
open arms. “She’s sleeping, Dr. Sally,
wants her on bed rest. Said she was over
doing it and if she wants the Trio, he was going to make sure she slows down.”

Jon and Stephanie walked into the hospital suite, she
looked so pale and it was very evident she was carrying multiples, by the tent
where he stomach would have been.
Sitting beside the bed, he held her hand.

Sunday, August 24, 2014

“Hey Lemma, Jon just took the lead on Multiples.” Richie smacked Jon on the back, then leaned
over and gave Lexie a kiss on the cheek.

“You better congratulate Lexie, so far as we know, Jon
can only shoot out singles.” Lemma
laughed and gave Lexie as kiss on the other cheek.

Several rounds of Champagne later, the guest started to
leave and the elder Bongiovi’s headed up to their rooms. Jesse and Stephanie helped Lexie pick up the
glasses, plates and trash. Jacob and
Romeo headed up to bed, Jon had let them stay up until they started to crash.

“Carlotta will kill us if we don’t get this place back
in order.” Lexie said as she came out of
the downstairs guest powder room with two glasses and a plate.

“I think that is the last of the trash.” Jesse said as he came in from the trash
dumpster.

“I loaded the dishwasher and started the load.” Stephanie came in from the kitchen. She joined Jesse as he flopped down on the
sofa. “All the packages are off the
tables at the front door.”

“It’s snowing again” Jesse told them as he yawned.

“Why don’t you guys go on up, you know Romey will be up
before the sun comes up.” Jon said as he
went toward his office.

“So that’s where he hides everything.” Jesse yawned and stood up.

“The Shoe Inn until before the party.” Lexie said as she sat down and kicked off her
shoes and sighed in relief.

“Ah,” Stephanie joined Jesse as they headed toward the
stairs. “Don’t stay up to long Lexie,
you’ll need your rest.”

“Going up soon after I help your dad.” She leaned her head back and closed her eyes.

Jon came in with Romeo’s old wagon loaded down with an
assortment of brightly wrapped packages and bags. “Lex can you go start on bringing the bikes
in.” He said as he started to unload the
wagon with Xbox games and Wii games.
Three teddy bear’s, two with pink bows and one with a yellow bow. When she didn’t answer he looked over at the
sofa and smiled. Standing up he shifted
her on the sofa and covered her with the throw, off the back of the sofa.

He finished up playing Santa, going over to the plate
of cookies he ate two, took the carrots back to the fridge and poured the now
hot milk down the drain. Taking the
empty glass back to the desk, we went over and moved Lexie over some, kicking
off his shoes he got comfortable on the sofa with Lexie in his arms and drifted
off to sleep.

Romeo crept to the top of the stairs, it was almost eight
in the morning, staying up late and the excitement for the babies’
announcement, he actually over slept.
Knowing he had to wake up his dad and Lexie, he went to their door
first.

“Merry Christmas Daddy and Lexie.” He knocked and opened the door. The bed was empty. “Maybe they didn’t wait on me.” He went next to his sister’s room.

“Merry Christmas Steph.” He opened the door and went and jumped on the
foot of her bed.

“Merry Christmas Romey.” Stephanie yawned. “Daddy and Lexie up yet?” She rolled over and looked at the clock,
“Eight O’clock, Romey, have you already been downstairs?” She sat up and pulled her little brother in a
hug.

“I just woke up, Stephie, stop it.” He giggled.
“Daddy and Lexie weren’t in the bedroom, the bed is still made.” He gasped for air when she stopped tickling
him.

“Maybe they beat us downstairs, you go get Jacob and
I’ll get Jesse.” She waited for her brother
to hop off the bed, getting up she pulled on her robe and headed to Jesse room.

The door opened and Jesse stood there in his robe.

“You’re up already?”
Stephanie asked.

“Who could sleep with you tickling the giggle
monster?” Jesse asked as he followed her
to the top of the stairs. Soon they were
joined by Jacob and Romeo.

“Okay let’s go see what Santa brought.” Stephanie led her brothers down the
stairs. She stopped short when she saw
her dad and Lexie asleep on the sofa.
“Found Daddy and Lexie.” She said
as they came into the room wishing them Merry Christmas.

Jon groaned and looked at his watch, his back was
killing him, but the soft body of his wife took the pain away.

“Merry Christmas,” came the sleepy voice of Lexie. She kissed his chin and sat up. “We never made it up to bed.” She yawned.

“You fell asleep on me.” He said as she sat up and gave him time to
sit up.

“Want me to make some coffee while we wait on Grandpa
and Grandma?” Stephanie asked looking at
the small box with her name on it. The tag said it was from Santa.

“That would be great Steph, anyone wake them up
yet?” Jon asked as he looked around at
the kids peaking under the tree.

“I’ll go get them.”
Jesse said, “You want your camera dad?”
He asked as he started up the stairs.

“Yeah Jess, Thanks.” Jon called out.

Soon they were joined by his parents and the mass
hysteria known all of the world as Christmas morning had begun. Jacob and Romeo
got new bikes and wanted to take them outside, but changed their mind when they
saw the fresh show.

Stephanie opened the small box from Santa and
squealed. “I got a car!” She jumped up and threw her arms around her
dad, who snapped away following one kid or the next.

“Don’t thank me Steph, it came from Santa.” Jon laughed.

It all got down to one box, Jesse was showing Lexie how
to use her iPad. Jon was excited when he
opened the box from Lexie that held the same three charms for his family
necklace as the charm bracelet that he had given her. Walking over he nodded
for Jesse to move off the sofa by Lexie.
He motioned to all the kids to gather round. He took the iPad from her and sat the last
unopened box on her lap.

“What is this? I
know every box that was under that tree.”
She looked at the tag. It read To
Lexie and had all the kid’s names on it along with Jon’s. “When did you put this one under the tree?”

“Last night when you fell asleep on me.” Jon laughed.

John Sr. and Carol quietly left the family, going into
the kitchen to get more coffee. Carlotta
was peeking out the door when they came in.

“Is it time for the big gift?” Carlotta asked them.

“Yes, he just gave it to her.” Carol told her as she poured a fresh cup of
coffee.

“My son said it wasn’t hard to work for Mr. Jon.” Carlotta said.

“Well, Money will tell.” Carol said and Carlotta
agreed.

Back in the family room, Lexie was slipping the ribbon
off the box and eased to tape off the paper.

“Just rip into it honey,” Jon said as he was not
patient.

“But the paper is so pretty, Jonny.” Lexie eased a
piece of tape off the paper.

“I’ll buy you a whole huge roll of it, just rip the
paper please.” Jon begged.

Lexie giggled and ripped the paper. Lifting the lid she
takes out an envelope. Carefully she
slips the papers out.

“Is this what I think it is?” She reads the pages slowly not once but
twice.

“We had this meeting,” Jesse stated to say.

“We want to be one family.” Stephanie added.

“We want you to be our mom.” Jacob said as he moved
closer to the sofa.

“Yeah, will you adopt us?” Romeo looked up at her with puppy dog eyes.

“I don’t know what to say.” Lexie said with big tears rolling down her
cheeks. Looking down to make sure Dorothea signed the papers.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Jon looked up at the screen, sure enough, right behind
baby Bongiovi Girl B, two was a head and two arms. Jon slowly started to slide down to the
floor.

“Trio, not a duet, but a
trio.” Jon mumbled as he sat propped
against the wall, pulling away from the nurse in a futile attempt to
get away from the foul smell of ammonia "popper", faint
giggles surrounding him.

“Three, we’re having triplets?” Lexie asked.

“I hope this one’s a baby brother.” Romeo mumbled as he looked at the third baby
on the screen.

“Is it a girl too?”
Stephanie asked, her fingers crossed.
Being in the minority in the house, it would be nice for the girls to
outnumber the boys.

“Its sister is blocking the view, we’ll just label it
Baby Bongiovi C.” Doctor Sally said as
he helped Jon stand. “I hope you’re not
going to do this in the delivery room.”
He teased Jon.

Lexie kept her eyes on the screen, two girls and a
third one? “I’m not having twins but
triplets?” She slowly sat up. Stephanie
handed her a towel to wipe off the gel.

“That means, you’ll be coming back more often, we’ll
try again after the holidays to see if baby three is also a girl.” Doctor Sally said as he made a notation in
the file.

“Daddy, can we go by the mall tomorrow?” Romeo asked.

“Mall, sure, why?”
Jon asked his youngest.

“I got to see a man in a red suit about ordering a
brother.” Romeo said in a serious voice. “Sissy asked for a sister and got two, I want
to ask for a baby brother.”

The last of the four that still believed in Santa. Jon smiled and patted him on the
shoulder. He would need to see the
jeweler about adding another rattle to his order.

All the way home, they talked about how they would tell
the family about the new trio coming to the family.

“We’ll announce it at the party.” Jon told then as they headed into the tunnel
on the way back to the river house.

“Jon, you know what this means?” Lexie asked him. “We need to start looking for a larger place
to live in the city.”

Jon was more thinking in the moment and not in the long
term.

“We got a while before you need to look.” Jon told Lexie.

“You have tour starting, I have to be in Atlanta in a
month, and the kids have school. When
are we going to have time?” Lexie
nibbled on her bottom lip.

“I’ll call the realtor that found the penthouse and
have her start looking. Will that be
okay?” Jon asked her as he pulled into
the Garden State Parkway and headed to exit nine.

“I guess so, we have four months to find a place. I wanted to start looking at furniture, three
of everything. We can’t go with pink,
because we don’t know what number three is.” Lexie pulled out her ever present
notebook and pen.

“Why don’t you do the room in a green and yellow
colors, sort of generic baby colors?”
Stephanie leaned forward to the front seat.

“That’s true, those are natural baby colors.” Lexie agreed.
“It will need to be a big room, to fit three cribs, changing tables and dressers.”

So Lexie and Stephanie talked about baby things all the
way home.

True to his word he stood in the Santa Clause line with
Romeo, so he could make his bid for a baby brother. It was just Jon and Romeo, Stephanie and
Lexie were looking online at baby items, Jesse and Jacob were helping Carlotta
with moving things around for the party in two days. After spending thirty minutes in line, they
went to the food court for hot chocolate and coffee.

“So, Romey, you want a baby brother?” Jon asked as he watched his youngest grow a
whipped cream mustache.

“Yeah, Steph is the oldest, then Jesse and Jacob and
me.” He wiped his lip with the back of his hand.

“Yeah, that’s because we had you last.” Jon said as he handed Romeo a napkin. “That’s how things happen.”

“I know,” He took the napkin and wiped his hand and
lips. “Jesse taught Jacob and me how to play
football, Jacob taught me how to play Mario, who do I get to teach?”

“You could teach the girls how to play football, or
play video games when they grow older.”
Jon said watching how Romeo processed the ideas.

“But it’s not the same, they’re girls.” He said as he finished his hot chocolate. “I can’t be the real older brother.” He looked up at his dad.

He didn’t seem to understand that he would still be an
older brother to the, then it hit him.
He would be the older brother of a little brother, instead of the
youngest brother.

“I understand Romey, I understand.” They threw the cups in the trash and headed
to shop.

The day of the party, Christmas Eve dawned snowy, Lexie
had been up with the birds, making sure everything was ready for the party. Jacob came down in his PJ’s, he came into the
family room and watched Lexie flitter around the tree.

“All this work and its over by lunch tomorrow. Romey will be up before the sun, to see what
Santa brought him.” He yawned, “I’ll
hook up the video for tonight, its looks good.”

“I bet it does.”
Lexie came over and sat by Jacob.
“Do you like doing that sort of thing, videotaping?”

“Yeah kinda, I take all the videos when we go out
trips, either with dad, or St. Barts.”
Jacob reached over for one of the gingerbread men sitting on a tray on
the table.

“That’s why you’re not in any of the family shots.” Lexie grabbed a cookie too.

“Unless Dad’s in his David Bergman mode,” He bite off a
foot. “Everyone thinks, just because I
look more like him than Jesse and Romeo, I’ll be the singer just like him. But I like being behind the camera not in
front of it.”

Jon had woken up alone and went in search of
Lexie. He wished he had picked up his
camera on the way down. They were facing
the tree, with their backs to him. Of
all his kids, Jacob was the quiet one, coming out of his shell more and
more. Lexie was a great mentor for
Jacob.

Coming up behind them, he looked down and noticed the
half eaten gingerbread in their hands.

“Cookies for breakfast?” Jon spoke and they both jumped.

“Gingerbread has flour, eggs and milk, which makes it a
breakfast food.” Lexie said as she bite
off its head.

Jon came around and sat beside Jacob.

“Ready for tonight?”
Jon reached for a cookie.

“The house is ready, so I guess I’m ready. The kids want to announce the baby
news.” She said looking down at Jacob
and winked.

“Yeah dad, we want to be the ones to announce the baby
news.” Jacob said as he looked up at
Lexie and winked back.

“Okay, if that’s what you want.” Jon said.

The party was in full swing, packages under the tree
grew and what they had bought for the guest were on the table by the door. So when they left they could grab one. In each basket was a copy of Lexie award
winning book, the women’s bag had earrings and the men’s had a watch. It was
easy to tell them apart the women’s was on one side of the door and the men’s
the other.

About nine o’clock Romeo moved everyone in the family
room. Jesse and Stephanie, made sure
everyone had a glass of champagne or cider.
Jacob attached his cell phone to the TV system.

Jesse and Stephanie got to the front of the huge
screen.

“We had to wrestle this from daddy,” Stephanie said to
much laughter. “Yesterday we, Jesse,
Jacob, Romeo and myself, along with daddy and Lexie. Went to the Doctor’s appointment.”

“We all got to be there when we, found out what Lexie
was having.” Jesse added.

“Many of you know Lexie and Daddy were having
twins.” Stephanie told the crowd.

Jon was on the receiving end of head tapping and
shoulder bumps. Jon reached over and
took Lexie hand, bringing to his lips he kissed her knuckles three times.

“So, we thought we would show you how the appointment
went.” Jesse informed the crowd. “Uncle Southside will you get the lights.

Once the lights went down, Jon leaned over and
whispered in Lexie’s ear.

“Did you know about this?” He whispered.

Lexie just nodded and smiled.

There on the big screen was the family with Doctor
Sally.

Everyone clapped when the Doctor announced Baby A
Bongiovi was a Girl.

“A little Granddaughter.” Carol oohed and ahhed.

“Way to go Kidd, another girl.” David yelled across the room.

Then the Doctor announced Baby B Bongiovi was also a
girl.

“Twin Girls, Jon is after your title Lemma.” Richie kidded David.

“What is this?”
The Doctor said. The camera moved
to Jon kissing Lexie. Jon had looked up
at the screen.

“We’ll call this one Baby C Bongiovi.” Doctor Sally said, as the camera panned to a
very pale Jon sliding to the floor.

“Trio, not a Duet, but a Trio?” Jon was heard to mumble. The screen went dark and a banner was held up
between Jesse and Stephanie saying “Welcome Bongiovi Triplets”.

“Congratulations Daddy and Lexie on having triplet’s
two girls we know for sure. We’ll find
out next month if it’s a Boy or Girl.”
Jesse announced.

Thursday, August 14, 2014

“Hold On Miss Lexie.”
The man said, as he righted her back on her feet. Cold Strawberries and cream wet his shirt,
when she ran into his chest.

“Oh, I’m so sorry.”
She backed away from him. She had
never seen him before today. “Why are
you following me?” She asked, then
glanced over his shoulder looking for a security guard.

“You knew I was following you?” He asked stunned. He had never been caught before.

“The men’s store, the book store and the toy store, but
that isn’t answering my question. Why
are you following me?” Lexie asked
again. Taking a step backwards to
distance herself from the stranger. Half
her Venti drink was smeared on his dark shirt.

The man cringed.

“Mr. Bon Jovi has hired private security for you and
the kids. He contacted us that you five
were shopping today.” He told her. “My name is Vito Manillie. We have three of us watching the family.”

John
Francis Bongiovi you are a dead man! She thought.

“Well Vito, I wish I had known and Mr. Bon Jovi will
get an ear full at lunch today. I’m
sorry about your shirt.” She handed him
the napkins she had grabbed.

“It’s okay, I’ve had worse tossed at me.” He laughed it off, as he wiped the cold
creamy drink off his shirt. “Can I ask
what gave me away? I don’t want to fail
again.”

“I’m a mystery writer and you reflected in my cell when
I checked to see if the kids were in trouble.”
She tossed her half empty cup, the taste for cold strawberries and cream
gone from her cravings. “Once I knew you
were there I started looking for you in the stores.”

“Mr. B isn’t going to be happy I was so spotted.” Vito said.

Mr.
B is going to get a piece of my mind when I see him at lunch. She smiled at him. They were soon joined by the kids and their
security agents. Well the kids didn’t
see them, but Lexie did. Vito tried to blend in with the other shoppers.

“All done?” She
looked down to the kids with multiple bags.

“Yeah and I have some left over.” Romeo said.

“That’s great, Romeo.”
She looked at the four bags he held.
She smiled when she saw they had one to the pet store.

“I’m tapped out.”
Jesse told her.

“Me too.”
Stephanie said smiling, she knew her dad would offer more money to shop
for Lexie.

“What about you Jakey?” She looked into Mini Jon’s blue
eyes.

“I’m okay.” He smiled up at her.

“He’s tight with his money, wouldn’t even loan me a
dollar.” Stephanie laughed.

“Well, let’s go meet your dad and have Pizza.” She widened her eyes when she said Pizza and
Romeo giggled.

They left and headed down into Rumson. She kept checking in the rearview mirror,
sure enough Vito was in a black sedan following her.

Parking the car they met Jon out front of
Umberto’s.

“You guys go on in, I need to talk to your dad. Get me ice water with lemon.” She smiled at the kids as they trooped into
the pizza parlor.

“Did you have fun shopping?” Jon asked as they walked out of the entrance
of Umberto’s and down away from where they wouldn’t be interrupted.

“Didn’t you get a report from Vito?” Lexie asked sarcastically.

Jon should have gotten a warning when she sent the kids
on in to the restaurant. The bite in her
voice, he bowed his head a little.

“You know about Vito?”
Jon asked her quietly. “I guess I
should have told you about Vito and the men.
I just wanted to keep you and the kids safe.” He looked up at her
sheepishly. “You know how my fans are, I
bet there are pictures of the kids and you shopping already on Twitter and
Facebook.”

“It ruined my whole shopping experience. I only picked up two things I needed. I haven’t got the kids anything, or your
parents.” She whispered to him.

Jon knew he was in deep shit when she whispered at
him. She never yelled when she was mad,
but boy could she whisper.

“I spotted him in the first store, I didn’t know who he
was. Then I started seeing him in every store I went to, the book store, the
toy store, everywhere. Then in the food
court I ran smack into him and spilt my strawberries and cream all over his
shirt. Then and only then did I find out
you hired someone to follow me around.”
She stood there toe to toe, hands on hips, the only thing missing was
her tapping toe to her boots.

“I know, I should have told you about Vito and the boys. The kids know they are being watched. The older two not as much as the younger two.” Jon took her hands, which he was lucky she
would allow. “I love you so much and out
little duet, that I don’t want anyone or anything to hurt you three.” He leaned
forward and kissed her nose.

She knew she should really be pissed at him, but he was
only trying to protect her.

“Next time, tell me I have a hired shadow.” She told him.

“Can we go eat now?”
He asked as he put his arms around her hips.

“I guess so, is there anything else you haven’t told me
about?” She asked him as she took his
hand and they headed into Umberto’s.

Jon ducked his head a little, should I tell her about the adoption? He decided until the paper was in his hands
he wouldn’t say anything.

Lunch was so fun, loads off laughs and jokes. When it got time to leave Jon call the owner
over to introduce Lexie and let him not only were they married but going to
have a baby or two. Much back slapping
and stories till Stephanie reminded her dad about shopping. Jon paid the bill and they walked out to the
cars. Lexie waved them off then headed
her car toward the shops along the downtown area of Red Bank. Pulling into the deck she parked and looked
for Vito to join her,

“I thought you would head back to the house.” Vito told
Lexie as they headed down the stairs to the sidewalk.

“Well since my shopping was botched, I thought you
might like to join me while I look for stocking stuffer’s and some stuff for
the kids,” She told them as she went into the boutique Stephanie liked. They shopped for three hours and Vito carried
the packages. Once back into the cars,
she headed the long way back to the house.

Jon watched the kids take off into the mall, once
again, the older two split the younger two.
He went on his own shopping, usual disguise sunglasses and a ball
cap. At home and in the City he could
walk around, sure there were Pap’s everywhere, but after he signed and posed
for a few pictures they normally left him alone. Shopping for Lexie he didn’t want them to
catch him in one shop or the other. He
had Stephanie going to Victoria Secret for him, with the pictures of what he
wanted to buy her. Jesse was picking up an
iPad for her, so when she was out and an idea struck her she didn’t have to
grab napkins or beg for paper. He even
has Romeo and Jakey picking up little things for her stocking. Stepping into
the jewelers he picked up a special order, He got her a necklace like his but
added the two baby rattle charms. He
knew God would give them two girls, they were due at the OBGYN tomorrow. The
whole family was going in, they would get the news if it was boys or girls or
one of each. Coming out he was stopped.

Pap one, “Merry Christmas Jon, Been shopping for
Lexie?”

Pap two. “Is it true you’re having twins?”

Jon smiled, good thing he had put the bag in his jacket
pocket. He posed for pictures and signed
some pictures. He knew the questions
before they said them.

“I’m shopping for my family. Shouldn’t you also be shopping for your
families?” He turned and walked to
another shop. He walked into a toy store
and began looking at games for the boys.
He wished he could still buy a doll or a tea service for Stephanie,
maybe he’ll pick up a doll and a teddy bear for the duet. He came out on the other side of the shop
where there were no Pap’s, he quickly rushed into the next shop, looking
around.

He finished his shopping, having a lot of it delivered
tomorrow while they were at the doctor.
He had already handed off money to his older two, but by all the bags
they carried, it was money well spent.
He loaded them into the car and headed to the house.

Once the car was unloaded they separated to wrap and
put things under the tree. He found Lexie curled up on the sofa, sound
asleep. The packages under the tree had
grown and the stocking looked like they were fuller. Carlotta came in with a platter of veggies
and cheese.

“Mr. Jon, she hasn’t been home long, been in here
wrapping and on that phone of hers.”
Carlotta placed the tray on the coffee table and smiled. “You got a good wife Mr. Jon, you got real
lucky this time.”

He grinned like crazy, she wasn’t telling him something
he didn’t already know.

“Mail is on your desk in the office and your parents
called, bring the pasta over before the party.” She chuckled. She knew his daddy and the family sauce.

“I’ll go check it in a while.” Jon said snagging some cheese cubes and
walking over to the bar and fixing him a goblet of wine.

“Go check your mail Hon.” Lexie said as she sat up and
wiped the sleep out of her eyes. “Did
you have fun at the mall?” She reached
for some cheese and a cracker.

“The kids made a haul and I got cornered by the paps,
they wanted to know about the duet, and what I picked up for your Christmas.” He sipped his wine and went and sat by her on
the sofa. “Mail can wait until after
dinner.”

“I got to proof my new book, thought I could use Stephanie’s
help.” She snatched up more cheese.

“She’ll like that.
You ready for tomorrow?” He handed
her a napkin.

“As I ever will.”
She took the napkin and smiled.

They were soon joined by the kids, dinner and a movie
was on tap for the night.

They were put in the family waiting room while Lexie
was prepped for the ultrasound.

“Are we going to be able to see the babies daddy?” Romeo asked

“We should, now you know they won’t look like
babies.” Stephanie told him.

“Yeah, I read the book Lexie had.” He beamed.

“Okay Bongiovi Family we are ready,” The Nurse came and
got them, “We have Lexie all set and the machine is running.”

They were told where to stand as the doctor came in.

“Well, maybe I should have brought in some popcorn for
the show.” Doctor Sally said as he took his position.

“They wanted to come,” Lexie told Dr. Sally. “Stephanie is the keeper of the secret. But Jon and I decided we want to know.”

“So we change your folder.” Dr. Sally smiled at her and turned on the
sound.